The UACI Program Roadmap provides entrepreneurs with a comprehensive guide for startup success. Because UACI accepts startups in all stages at all times, the Roadmap is individualized based on need. UACI’s staff educators also serve as accountability partners to ensure the most relevant strategies and activities are implemented.

  • Problem Identification articulating how your product makes the world a better place
  • Entity Formation setting the legal groundwork for your entity
  • Financials creating capitalization plans, financial statements and valuation projections
  • Business Model developing a go-to-market plan and pricing strategies and revenue models
  • Customer Discovery identifying customers and their needs
  • Accounting System creating a payroll and tax plan, selecting accounting software, setting up a business bank account, evaluating tax rates
  • Product Valuation determining parameters for product development, including minimal viable product, proof of concept, manufacturability and quality control
  • Exit Strategy learning about M&A, Lifestyle and IPO options and identifying potential acquirers
  • Regulatory Requirements determining industry requirements, working with regulatory consultants, determining regulatory time and cost commitments
  • Milestone Development determining KPI development by tracking and adjusting milestones
  • Customer Segments narrowing in on customer personas, their influencers, and market segments
  • Customer Relationships determining strategic partnerships, customer preferences, and mastering “get, keep, grow” strategies
  • Market Assessment identifying best data sources, market opportunities, market growth trends
  • Marketing Collateral developing a logo, website, written and digital materials, and social media assets
  • Team Development evaluating and addressing team aptitude and gaps; creating an organizational chart; recruiting; determining equity vs. compensation; building a company culture
  • Board Development learning how to form and assign roles for advisory board members and boards of directors
  • Dilutive Funding developing an investment strategy— e.g., FFF, seed, series, venture capital, individual and accredited funding
  • Non-Dilutive Funding devising a grant strategy, identifying SBIR/STTR opportunities, and developing proposals, timelines and debt strategies
  • Market Strategy creating a mission/vision statement, solidifying target market(s), developing outreach plan, and determining internal vs. contractor teams
  • Pitch developing pitch descriptions and deck, gaining presentation skills, prepping for individual vs. competitive pitches
  • Formulation of Value Proposition creating a value proposition per customer segment, developing a canvas of values vs. features
  • IP Protection Strategy learning about patents, trademarks, copywrite and trade secrets, while developing an IP strategy, timeline and budget
  • Executive Summary understanding the components and visual structure required for the executive summary
  • Operations weighing the pros and cons of making vs. buying products; and learning about supply chains, distribution channels, and manufacturing and production
  • Competitive Analysis learning how to position against direct and indirect competitors through benchmarking and SWOT analysis
  • Business Plan determining the components, sequencing and uses of a business plan and business model canvas
  • Community Involvement creating strong relationships with service providers and trade organizations; participating and hosting local events, and attending conferences

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